For individuals with disabilities the somewhat natural progression to the workplace can be fraught with challenges. Even for able-bodied individuals, finding and landing a job can prove to be exhausting. This is even more so for individuals with disabilities.

KenCCID utilizes the Personal Outcome Measures® tool to ensure support and services are truly individual-centered. Caring for individuals with disabilities has come a long way. Days past, care felt more like forcing individuals to comply with a strict regimen. This regimen, of course, catered to the interests of the caregivers. At KenCCID, care for individuals with disabilities centers the interests of the individual.

Rosa’s Law, as it came to be known changed the use of the words “mental retardation” and “a mentally retarded individual” in Federal laws to “an individual with an intellectual disability”. This was a sweeping change that also made Federal agencies revise their amendments to be in alignment with Rosa’s Law.

As Disability Awareness Month draws to a close, we want to take a step back in time to where it all began. One mom’s commitment to her son fanned the flame that would turn KenCCID into a reality. In the 1970s, the courts had started ordering individuals with disabilities be removed from state-run institutions. These orders came on the heels of bone-chilling investigations into the now infamous Pennhurst State Institution.

Providing medical care to the general population comes with its own set of challenges. When it comes to individuals with disabilities, access to quality medical care can be even more challenging. At KenCCID, we take pride in being able to provide medical care to some of the most vulnerable members in our society.

It’s no secret that caring for individuals with disabilities can be challenging. At KenCCID, we look at each challenge as an opportunity to learn more about the individual. We don’t play the blame game when things don’t go as planned. Rather, we’re here to engage, restore, and nurture the individuals entrusted to our care to a place where they feel safe and can thrive.

We all know how good it feels when we’re recognized for our hard work. At KenCCID, the work we do supports individuals with disabilities on a daily basis. This work can be especially challenging since we live in a society where adequate support systems tend to be lacking.

In honor of Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia is working to shine a light on regional leaders who identify as or support individuals with disabilities and their vital contributions to the strength, vitality, and growth of our region. Our very own CEO of KenCCID, Maku Warrakah-Ali, shares her thoughts on this very important month.

KenCCID is a 501(C) 3 non-profit charitable organization providing services for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to have independence, self-sufficiency and self-reliance; utilizing staff and community resources to enrich and enhance our individuals’ quality of life.